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Review: Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Svoboda, Robert and A

Lade. 1998. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limite

152. Rs. 150/-.

by D.P. Agrawal & Lalit TiwariTraditional Chinese and Ayurveda medicine constitute the two major legacies for health and healing fro

ancient world. However, one distinction between the two is found in the fact that traditional Chinese mintroduced to the West during the 70s and 80s, has a more physico-materialistic focus.

In both North America and Europe the past few years have seen a dramatic rise of interest in Chinese mAyurveda, and these two traditional medicine systems are now established as 'Alternative Medicine Sy

This book named Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, written by Robert Svoboda and Arnie Lade, tries tothe reader a basic understanding of Indian and Chinese traditional medicine systems. In fact, they deal w

Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, in the light of their own concepts of ideology, health and illness in thi

This book is divided into three parts. The first and second sections deal with the basic theories and prac

Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, while the third section consists of a comparative study of both medici

including an outline of what we know of their historical relationship with each other.

Part I contains nine small chapters on Chinese medicine system. In the first chapter, the writers deal wi

and development of Chinese medicine system. They say, "description of some aspects of early medicalChina are found in the Historical Memoirs (Shi ji), which is the first book in a series of dynastic record

about 500 BC. Subsequent works especially of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) laid the groundwork

medicine system. Three texts of this period stand out, the first is the Classic of Difficult Issues (Nan Jin

second major work is,Discussion of Cold Induced Disorders (Shan Han Lung); while the third is Chinamateria medica, Shen Nong's Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao)".

In the next two chapters, the authors describe the Tao and Yin-Yang philosophy and the concept of five

In Chinese philosophy Tao is denoted as the unmanifest source of creation that gives rise to the suprem

from which the universe unfolds. In the passive state the Tao is empty and non-reactive, while in active

Tao is seen as a universal progenitor, which creates reality and keeps it together, functioning, vitalized.Yin and Yang refer to the principle of the inherent duality. Five elements are the main base of Chinese

system: wood, earth, fire, metal, and water. In this chapter the authors also describe the five elements w

the cycles.

"The Essential Substance" is the next chapter of this book where the writers describe the five essential sthat form the basis for the development and maintenance of the human body: Qi, Blood (xue), Essence

(shen) and Fluids (jin ye). The authors inform us that these five substances have a dynamic relationshipand nurturing each other for the benefit of the whole organism. Chinese medicine lays paramount stress

understanding the relationship of the organs (zang fu) with the various signs and symptoms manifest in

physical, emotional and mental levels of existence.

The authors describe the Chinese organ theory in the next chapter of this book. According to them Chin

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medicine in general recognized the functions and patterns of ten organs which are: liver, heart, spleen,

kidneys (Yin organ), gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder (Yang organ), whose

relationships are based upon correspondence with the Yin-Yang and five element theories. The next chwith the Meridian system of Chinese medicine. The Meridian system has specifically four major functi

promote communication between the internal organs and the exterior of the body, and to connect the in

the rhythms of the biosphere and the celestial sphere; (2) to regulate and harmonize the Yin and Yang athe activities of the organs and substance; (3) to distribute Qi from the organ to the body; and (4) to probody by creating a protective shield. They describe these four functions in detail in this chapter. In Chin

medicine system illnesses are classified according to their origin from external or internal cause. When

forces disturb the body's equilibrium and harmony, the diseases are caused and the writers describe thesin their next chapter. In next two chapters, they deal with the diagnosis and therapeutics such as acupun

moxibustion, massage, etc.

Part II of this book is devoted to Indian medicine system, Ayurveda, and contains ten chapters. The firs

Part II describes the origins and development of Ayurveda. The authors deal with the Indian ancient tex

Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, etc in this chapter. Second chapter describes the Sankhya philosop

Ayurveda. They also draw a detailed diagram, in which this philosophy is summarized. The basis of Aythe three doshas (humours), which are vata (air),pitta (bile) and kapha (phlegm). The authors summari

principles, the effects on the body and concepts of these three humors in their next two chapters. They three doshas, the elements from which they arise, increase and decrease in the body according to the pr(qualities) of the body; qualities, which we derive from our food, drink and our environment, and throu

intrinsic chemistry. In the next chapter, the authors describe the body channels and their flow. The body

many channels (strotamsi) such as large and small, through which nutrients and waste move. Accordingauthors fourteen channels are primary channels of the human body; three of them deal with nutrition fr

seven deal with tissue nutrition; and remaining channels deal with the elimination of wastes. In the nex

chapters, the writers describe the human anatomy, body structure and constitution, respectively, accord

Ayurvedic texts. Ayurveda is basically a humoural medical system and conceives of three essential humwhich cause disease if they become imbalanced. The Ayurvedic concept of disease is discussed in the n

The diseases are divided into three categories: endogenous, exogenous and mental. Next two chapters a

to the Ayurvedic concepts of 'Diagnosis' and 'Treatment'.

Part III of this book is very interesting as it deals with the comparison between the Indian and Chinese

systems. Part III has a total of ten chapters in which the authors compare these two ancient medicine sythrough their origin, historical points of view, energetic-physiological point of view, consciousness, con

diseases, diagnosis and treatments etc. At the end, the authors concede that Ayurveda and Chinese med

systems are both living systems of medicine with ancient roots, the oldest continuously practiced and remedical traditions in the world. Fundamental to both systems is the belief that an individual who lives a

the nature's laws remains healthy. The Chinese medicine system follows the concepts of Tao, Yin and Y

the five elements, while Ayurveda is based on the Sankhya philosophy and follows the theory ofDosha

elements, and the three attributes to explain their vision of the natural order. The authors believe that bathese themes of two different medicine paradigms are similar. Another common feature of both medica

the belief in an essential life force, calledPrana by the Indians and Qi by the Chinese.

The authors of this book have done a really good job of comparing these two ancient traditional medica

a relatively brief book. Its very well illustrated also. The book contains two different appendixes, first i

'Comparison of Some Important Medicinal Substances'; and second is 'The Use of Vital Points in Asia'

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appendix is very important as in this section the authors compare some important medicinal substances

plants, between Ayurveda and Chinese medical system.

At the end, we would like to recommend that it's a very educative and informative book for those intere

ancient Oriental medical sciences.